Bridge Street Mission's homeless shelter proposal sparks controversy | Weekly Wausonian
Wausau news for the week of June 26, 2025
Wausau’s Police Department began running the city’s homeless shelter last month, something that came with some controversy. But now a proposal from an outside group has some critics preferring the police continue to run it.
Bridge Street Mission answered the city’s request for proposals to run a shelter for the city’s homeless in the strip mall they’re renovating that once housed Bethesda thrift shop (later renamed to AbleLight) and other businesses.
Bridge’s response came after an earlier request for proposals yielded no results, causing the police to figure out how to run a shelter themselves. In The Wausonian’s story linked below, council member volunteered and ours was the only media on hand to report how it went, giving an insight into what intake at the shelter looks like.
The city’s police department running the shelter caused a stir at the time, but now critics are wary of Bridge Street, which is religious-oriented and uses that as a focus for the transition housing it runs at the site currently.
Wausau Police Chief Matt Barnes assured members of the city’s Finance Committee, who approved the city working with Bridge to come to terms following a closed session hearing, that Bridge Street would welcome everyone at the shelter. He pointed out that the current shelter is housed in a church’s basement and that religious organizations seem to be the only ones stepping up to help.
Craig Vincent of Bridge Street Mission echoed that sentiment, that they wouldn’t turn people away because of their identity or religion.
Subscribers this week got an inside look at the city’s new homeless shelter and what a typical night is like - a feature only at The Wausonian:
Inside the Wausau's new homeless shelter
Monday night a quorum of the city council met in a building downtown. But they weren’t there to discuss city business.
The Wausonian also gave you guys an inside look at the new Foundry on Third building, built where the mall once stood:
Foundry on Third occupancy could start in November
The Foundry on Third project could have tenants as early as November/December, the owner of T. Wall Enterprises told The Wausonian.
Plus, City Council President Lisa Rasmussen reacts to a proposal by Mayor Doug Diny to hire a Wausau city manager and eliminate the mayor position.
What else in Wausau news?
City council notebook
The city council voted to override the mayor’s veto of the city further engaging CVMIC lawyers to represent staff and unelected officials during the ongoing Mayor Doug Diny ethics investigation. Diny conceded the gavel to City Council President Lisa Rasmussen in order to take the podium and argue that the city didn’t follow public process in appointing the attorney initially. Rasmussen argued that the appointment came out of a closed session and the council made a decision publicly following that. The Ethics Board on April 29 elected to go back and interview more witnesses after the city clerk and attorney declined a subpoena, citing the ongoing DOJ investigation that has yet to conclude. The board adjourned for 120 days in order to include more witnesses suggested by the city attorney, herself a witness in the board’s investigation. The 120-day period would end in late August.
The city council approved an unusual sale and purchase process of a second ladder truck for the city’s fire department. The plan: Sell the city’s current ladder truck No. 2 for $1.1 million to a Georgia fire department and very quickly use that money to buy a newer demo model fire truck for around $1.3 million. Wausau Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp told City Council Member Terry Kilian in response to questioning that there was nothing in writing regarding the sale, and Mayor Doug Diny acknowledged that the process is potentially risky; the city could learn some lessons for the future, he said prior to the vote. Kilian was the lone vote against the measure.
The city approved a last-minute contract with Pho Zone to run the city’s concession stand at RiverLife Park. Briq’s announced at the end of last season that 2024 would be its last, and a proposal by the owners of Sawmill Trampoline Park fell through, leaving the city scrambling for another option. Parks Director Jamie Polley said they put out the request for proposals again, got two on Friday and took the Pho Zone proposal directly to the council, bypassing the Parks Committee. The second response was not disclosed in public materials but on request, The Wausonian learned the other was Pal Ice Cream Rolls. According to the terms, Pho Zone will pay $500 per month for July and August to operate in the stand, and will serve ice cream and “quick serve” food and beverages.
Around the metro
County board notebook:
The Board Tuesday approved adding $150,000 to the 2026 budget to go toward a larger fund that would help incentivize new airlines to come to Central Wisconsin Airport. The aim is to get $500,000 total from Marathon and Portage counties as well as businesses and philanthropy groups. Airport Director Brian Grefe said small airports are now using the funds to help reduce the risk for airlines to set up shop, mitigating losses in the first two years of service. It passed 32-5, with some members expressing concern about future budget unknowns, concern about the precedent it set and whether it makes sense to subsidize air travel. But proponents say it’s necessary to keep the airport viable, as it decreased from 12 flights per day to only five. The last airline, Avelo, shut down after less than a year operating at CWA. The resolution directs the county administrator to include the funding in the budget, but doesn’t necessarily mean the board has to ultimately keep it in the budget; and the board likely won’t if no one else participates.
The county board voted nearly unanimously to send back to committee a resolution making a number of directives to the county’s representative on the Joint Review Board, which approves the creation and modification of TIF districts.
The board voted unanimously to sell the former Community Corner Clubhouse building at 811 3rd Avenue. The property is estimated to have a fair market value of $130,000.
Much of Lake Wausau will be closed to boating this weekend: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be maintaining a safety zone at Lake Wausau during the Wings over Wausau event at the Wausau Municipal Airport this weekend, according to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office will be assisting with the safety zone, which means large parts of the lake will be closed to boaters over the two-day event from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. And the public boat landing at Bluegill Bay Park will be closed early Friday morning through the Saturday evening air show.
Pedestrian who ran from police struck and killed on Highway 29: Marathon County Sheriff’s Office officials say a pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 29 near 72nd Avenue Monday. According to a news release, Wausau Police received a call that a man was lying on Highway 29 - when they arrived, he claimed to have a firearm and ran from the officers. He was struck by a vehicle and died as a result of his injuries at the scene, police say. Officials have not identified the person and the incident is under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
New trustee appointed in Weston: The Weston Village board recently appointed Luis Lopes Serrao to the village’s vacant board seat. The seat was left vacant when Jim Pinsonneault resigned following the spring elections. Serrao is a police lieutenant with the Wausau Police Department and already served on the village’s Public Works and Utility Committee.
Business
New Indian food truck opens: Wausonians in surveys cited Indian as the type of food most missing in Wausau. But that’s no longer the case - a food truck called Mountain Taste opened Saturday, serving authentic Indian and Nepalese cuisine.
The Chocolate Shop is for sale: Roughly a year after opening the Chocolate Cafe downtown, the owners of The Chocolate Shop have announced the business is for sale. The Chocolate Shop opened roughly three years ago. The owners plan to continue running the Chocolate Cafe, but say they would be willing to help a new owner navigate running The Chocolate Shop business.
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Entertainment
It’s Wausau’s new Big Weekend, with Wings over Wausau and Chalkfest filling the weekend with fun! Plus kayakers take to Whitewater Park, a kids juggling clown show, a Chicago funk band comes to town and more in our Wausome Weekend Guide:
Sports
College softball: The Wausau Ignite college summer league softball team edged out a close win over La Crosse Tuesday, 11-10, as it holds on to a two-game winning streak. The Ignite are still only 4-8 on the season, fourth place in the five-team league. They started hosting the Mankato Habaneros Wednesday night for a two-game homestand.
College baseball: The Wausau Woodchucks capped off a two-game winning streak Tuesday with a defeat of the Lakeshore Chinooks 17-7. The 18-11 Chucks are now leading the Northwoods League Great Lakes West division. Starting Wednesday they headed to Werner Park for a two-game away stand against the Madison Mallards.
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